Dancing on Ice 2011 - Viva Las Vegas

By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

LAS VEGAS, is undoubtedly the glamour capital of the world.  Famous for its bright lights, gambling and boxing title fights, the city relocated to the Dancing on Ice rink for a special-themed night.  More pressure was also heaped on the remaining ten celebrities as this week also saw the start of the ‘Ultimate Skills’ phase which started with having to perfect an unassisted step sequence.

Jennifer Metcalfe & Sylvain Longchambon

Skated to: If I Could Turn Back Time

It had certainly been a rollercoaster start to the competition for Jennifer with several close calls and injuries.  Sunday saw again that she was not really at her best yet but still very competitive.  A few more weeks’ progress and that confidence will be fully in place.

Scores: Jason 6.0 Robin 7.0 Emma 6.0                                     TOTAL: 19.0/30.0 (5th)

Jeff Brazier & Isabelle Gauthier

Skated to: It’s Not Unusual

If there had to be one big disappointment in the show so far, it had to be Jeff.  Falling way below expectations, he needed to really now show what he was capable of.  Finally, that all came together in the performance and Jeff knows that he now needs to stay at this standard at all times to stay in the running.

Scores: Jason 5.5 Robin 7.5 Emma 7.0                                     TOTAL: 20.0/30.0 (4th)

Laura Hamilton & Colin Ratushniak

Skated to: All Coming Back To Me Now

So far Laura has shown that she can take any setbacks and pressure very well and then turn it into a spectacular performance.  There not much of that to be shown tonight but still regardless it was certainly her best performance to date.

Scores: Jason: 8.5 Robin 8.0 Emma 7.5                                    TOTAL: 24.0/30.0 (2nd)

Denise Welch & Matt Evers

Skated to: Wonderful

Denise isn’t a quality skater but what is good about her is that she never throws in the towel; she does give it a good go.  To back that statement, this week was certainly her best week and it will definitely prove that she slowly but surely is making progress.

Scores: Jason 4.5 Robin 4.5 Emma 4.5                                     TOTAL: 13.5/30.0 (8th)

Comedy Dave & Frankie Poultney

Skated to: Release Me

Dave should also be given credit for trying moves without making a fuss.  Certainly, this was not a perfect performance which saw partner Frankie lose grip and fall over on the ice.  From there on, the rest of the skating went downhill.

Scores: Jason 3.0 Robin 4.0 Emma 4.0                                     TOTAL: 11.0/30.0 (9th)

Vanilla Ice & Katie Stainsby

Skated to: Blue Suede Shoes

Vanilla Ice perhaps got the best pick out of the songs this week, as he was a massive Elvis Presley fan.  To say it was totally perfect can’t be used, but he did the song justice and made massive improvements in what had been shown in the last few weeks.  His miming of the song did annoy Jason Gardiner though!

Scores: Jason 5.5 Robin 5.0 Emma 5.5                                     TOTAL: 16.0/30.0 (6th)

Johnson Beharry & Jodeyne Higgins

Skated to: Piano Man

The surprise package so far has without question been Johnson.  He has taken constructive criticism and improved on it each week.  This week was a little disappointing as he didn’t really have enough to give in his performance.  However, this was overshadowed by an extraordinary clash between ice judge Jason Gardiner and head coach Karen Barber.  See video below;

Scores: Jason 4.0 Robin 4.0 Emma 4.0                                     TOTAL: 12.0/30.0 (7th)

Sam Attwater & Brianne Delcourt

Skated to: I Get a Kick Out Of You

Vegas week even had frontrunner Sam baffled as to how to put on good show.  After doing the sensible thing of seeking expert advice away from the ice, he once again delivered to everyone’s expectations.  There is no doubt the battle to win the contest will soon be over at this rate.

Scores: Jason 8.5 Robin 8.5 Emma 8.5                                     TOTAL: 25.5/30.0 (1st)

Kerry Katona & Dan Whiston

Skated to: Woman in Love

Everyone can see that Kerry is having a real problem with learning to skate on her own.  However, this routine exposed this, but the fact that she isn’t trying to do it.  As an example, Denise is another celebrity who is struggling but unlike Kerry, she tries her best to cope.  This is certainly not what Kerry expected when she signed up.  Shocking!

Scores: Jason 3.0 Robin 3.5 Emma 3.5                                     TOTAL: 10.0/30.0 (10th)

Chloe Madeley & Michael Zenzini

Skated to: In the Mood

Chloe is another of the celebrities that puts in the effort and it pays off with huge dividends.  Yet again, she duly delivered when it mattered and will also take on anything that seems very risky to pull off.  She may not win but she will be around for many more weeks to come.

Scores: Jason 7.0 Robin 7.5 Emma 7.5                                     TOTAL: 22.0/30.0 (3rd)

The Result

After last week’s ‘Ice Pick’, elimination reverted to normal this week with the judges making the decision.  This week’s results proved that the public can make a huge difference in the final leaderboard.  For the first time in the show’s history, the celebrities that finished in the bottom four places in the judges scores were all saved and consigned Jennifer and Vanilla Ice into the bottom two.

Both celebrities didn’t want to leave this early and they proved it in their skate-off performances, giving the panel an extremely tough decision to make.  However, going completely against the form book, Vanilla Ice won through with the backing of all three of them.

Jennifer was shattered and left in tears over her sudden demise as Phillip Schofield, Christopher Dean and even head judge Robin Cousins lamented the public for their decision, not just to force the Hollyoaks actress out but for putting Vanilla Ice in the skate-off, as he was considered as an outside contender as well.  This is another talent show that has sprung a shock result.

The contest goes on and next week, the nine remaining stars will continue the progress in mastering the unique skills along with another themed performance, as they will be giving performances to famous West End musicals.

Dancing on Ice 2010 Final - The Right Winner

After twelve weeks of gripping competition, ITV’s skating hit show, Dancing on Ice came to an end on Sunday night, won deservedly by ex-soap actress Hayley Tamaddon.  Tamaddon, partnered by UK gold medallist and professional Daniel Whiston, starred throughout the entire series, only being toppled off the leaderboard on one of the eleven weeks she skated on.

The final routines saw the three finalists, Tamaddon, Hollyoaks actor Kieran Richardson and The Bill’s Gary Lucy took to the skies, flying in the ice rink studio.  This was followed by all three finalists performing their favourite routine of the series.  Hayley repeated her ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ routine from Movie Week and once again, got perfect scores of 6.0 from the ice panel judges, Karen Barber, Nikki Slater, Jason Gardiner, Emma Bunton and Robin Cousins.  Afterwards, the phone lines were frozen and host Phillip Schofield announced the two couples who would go on to skate their own version of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s famous dance, ‘Bolero.’  ‘Bolero’ won a gold medal for Torvill & Dean at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and has become an iconic moment in UK sporting history.

Richardson was knocked out of the competition, having received the fewest votes from the public, leaving Tamaddon and Lucy free to skate ‘Bolero.’  Hayley’s version was full of buzz, electrifying to watch, whereas Gary Lucy’s was more like the ‘giving up,’ bolero.  Lucy has been labelled as ‘boring’ by Mr. Frosty himself, Jason Gardiner throughout the competition and to be honest; I felt the same way about the majority of his performances.  For him to even get into the final two was a major surprise.  Perhaps people felt sorry for him, as he won’t have an acting job anymore, following ITV’s decision to axe The Bill on Friday afternoon.

The final outcome was expected and relieving.  As the competition progressed, Hayley Tamaddon turned this year’s show into a one-horse race.  Her talents were amazing on the ice, her partnership and friendship with Whiston blossomed and there was little doubt that she was going to end up on top.  ITV’s viewing figures for Series 5 dropped quite significantly and maybe it is time to review the celebrity selection process or make some gambles in the set-up of the show to keep it afloat and the public’s interest at heart.  Series five had its moments throughout such as Sharron Davies’s controversy to change the music and choreography of one of her routines, Dr. Hillary Jones inability to skate and Heather Mills’s bravery which won her some new supporters and earned her a load creditability and respect back from a previously tarnished reputation.  However, more competition is probably needed to make the long- term success of this show a sustainable one.  There can be no doubt though that the right individual won the 2010 contest.    

Dancing on Ice - Seven Down, Seven Remain

Fourteen celebrities, seven have departed and now only seven remain, the crème of the crop in the 2010 version of ITV’s skating show, Dancing on Ice.  Under the guidance of the fantastic ice double and gold medallists at the 1984 Winter Olympics, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the aim is for these celebrities, paired with a professional skater to turn themselves from bumbling buffoons on the ice, into skating perfectionists.  The prize at the end is worth it, the chance to skate the famous routine ‘Bolero,’ with the chance to become Dancing on Ice champion for 2010.

The show is now in its 5^th series and gets better with each year.  Show-stopping performances, a mean grilling from the ice-panel and the crazy costumes worn, make it a must-hit for Sunday night entertainment.  Dancing on Ice is a show for all the family to enjoy, and it is a relaxing form of entertainment, away from the dramatic soap operas, tension-filled sporting moments and gritty drama that dominate our TV schedules.  No wonder why over ten million viewers tune in every weekend.  This show has rekindled the nation’s love of ice skating.

The show has already bid farewell to seven celebrities, including GMTV medic Dr. Hillary Jones, 80’s pop sensation Sinitta, Olympic swimmer Sharon Davies and cooking author and wife of Gordon, Tana Ramsay.  Some have not been helped by the strange comments from the inconsistent Nikki Slater and the vile sayings from Mr. Frosty himself, Jason Gardiner.  Also making up the judging team is Karen Barber, assistant coach to the amateur skaters, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and former Olympic figure skating champion Robin Cousins.  Recently, whilst Robin has been away, commentating on the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, guest judges have stepped in, in the form of classical artist Michael Ball and newsreader Angela Rippon.

The favourite for the crown this year is star of the West End and former soap actress, Hayley Tamaddon.  Hayley has topped the leaderboard ever single week so far, and together with professional partner, Daniel Whiston, look tough to beat on their current form.  However, she doesn’t have the clear advantage that Ray Quinn had on everyone in the last series.  Her closest challengers are likely to be ex-Dream Team and Footballers Wives actor Gary Lucy and EastEnders actress, Daniela Westbrook.  Both have been improving with each passing week, making this year’s contest less predictable to pick a winner.

The dark horse of the competition is Hollyoaks bad boy Kieran Richardson, who has steadily been making the strongest improvement out of any of the remaining skaters.  Completing the remaining celebrities in the show are Boyzone heartthrob, Mikey Graham, ex-Coronation Street actor Danny Young, who has been stuck on a total of 17.0points for the past five weeks, much to the chagrin of his partner, British adagio skater Frankie Poultney and the Inbetweeners comedian, Emily Atack, who has done well to reach this stage, after a barrage of scathing criticism from the judges.

Four weeks left of the hit show and anything can happen, especially with Prop week coming very soon, often a trip-up for one of the favourites.  Hayley may be the one to catch, but who will add their list to Gaynor Faye, Kryan Bracken, Suzanne Shaw and Ray Quinn as a Dancing on Ice Champion is anyone’s guess.